Arlington, Va—Because substance abuse during adolescence can lead to addiction, mental health problems, and other difficulties in adulthood, researchers are looking for ways to prevent smoking, drinking, and drug use in children and teenagers. An adolescent is under many biological and environmental influences that affect substance use, yet scientists lack information about how these influences interact.

“We know very little about the underlying developmental mechanisms that lead to adolescent substance use and abuse,” said Matt McGue, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, at the Resilience in Children Conference hosted here in February.